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Aims: In recent years, studies have indicated that consumers of alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) are more likely to drink heavily and experience more negative consequences than consumers who avoid these beverages. Although researchers have identified a number of plausible hypotheses that explain how alcohol-energy drink co-ingestion could cause greater alcohol consumption, there has been no postulation about reverse causal relations. This paper identifies several plausible hypotheses for the observed associations between AmED consumption and greater alcohol consumption, and provides initial evidence for one such hypothesis suggesting that heavy drinking may be a determinant of AmED use.Method: Data collected from 511bar patrons were used to examine the plausibility of one of the proposed hypotheses, i.e., AmED is an artifact of heavy drinking. Associations between the consumption of an assortment of alcoholic beverage types and total alcohol consumption were examined at the event-level, to assess whether AmED is uniquely related with greater alcohol consumption.Results: Increased alcohol consumption was associated with greater odds of consuming most alcoholic beverage types; this association was not unique to AmED.Conclusions: Results support the overlooked hypothesis that AmED use is an artifact of heavy drinking. Thus, AmED consumption may be a consequence or marker of heavier drinking. Much of the existing research on alcoholic beverage types is limited in its ability to implicate any specific type of drink, including AmED, as a cause of increased alcohol consumption and related harm. More rigorous study designs are needed to examine causal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Technology has transformed our lifestyles in dramatic and significant ways, including new and less expensive options for recruiting study participants. This study examines cost and participant differences between two recruitment sources, Craigslist (CL), and print newspapers (PNs). This paper also reviewed and compared studies involving clinical trials published since 2010 that recruited participants using CL alone or in combination with other methods.Method: Secondary data analyses from a parent study involving a randomized controlled trial of a mail-based intervention to promote self-change with problem drinkers.Results: Significant differences were found between CL and PN participants on most demographic and pretreatment drinking variables. While all participants had AUDIT scores suggestive of an alcohol problem and reported drinking at high-risk levels, CL participants had less severe drinking problem histories, were considerably younger, and had a higher socioeconomic status than PN participants. The total advertising costs for the 65 CL ads ($275) were significantly less than the 69 PN ads ($33, 311). The recruiting cost per eligible participant was vastly less expensive using CL ($1.46) compared to print newspaper ads ($116.88).Conclusions: Using CL is a viable recruitment method for soliciting participants, particularly those that are younger, for alcohol intervention studies. It is also less expensive than newspaper ads. When CL participants were recruited, they reported being slightly more confident to change their drinking than PN participants. Limitations of using CL are discussed, including that some initial ad responders gave inconsistent answers to similar questions and a few tried to enter the study more than once. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, the preliminary breakdown (PB) pulse train preceding the negative first return stroke (RS) is recorded using a broad band antenna system. These analyses were carried out in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and Florida, United States. This is a novel initiative at examining and identifying the characteristics of the PB pulse trains in the negative cloud-to-ground flashes observed in Malaysia. The arithmetic mean of the total pulse train duration is 12.3ms and the weighted arithmetic mean of the pulse durations and interpulse intervals are 11μs and 152μs, respectively. The arithmetic mean ratio between the maximum peak amplitude of the PB pulse and the peak RS electric field was 27.8%, and the corresponding value in Florida was 29.4%. The arithmetic mean of the time duration between the most active part of the pulse train, and the RS was 57.6ms in Malaysia and 22ms in Florida. A qualitative comparison of our results with those obtained earlier in Sri Lanka, Sweden and Finland supports the hypothesis that the PBP/RS ratio is higher in the northern regions compared to the tropical regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A diverse array of spatial optimization models dealing with protection, service, coverage, equity, and risk can potentially aid with the effective placement of critical assets. Protection of assets can be enhanced using the p-dispersion model, which locates facilities to maximize the minimum distance between any two. Dispersion, however, is rarely the only objective for a system of facilities, and the p-dispersion model is known to be difficult to solve. Therefore, this paper analyzes the trade-offs and computational times of four multi-objective models that combine the p-dispersion model with other facility location objectives relevant to siting critical assets, such as the p-median, max-cover, p-center, and p-maxian models. The multi-objective models are tested on a case study of Orlando, Florida. The dispersion/center model produced the most gradual trade-off curve, while the dispersion/maxian trade-off curve had the most pronounced “elbow.” The center and median multi-objective models were far more computationally demanding than the models using max cover and p-maxian. These findings may inform decision-makers and researchers in deciding what type of multi-objective models to use for planning dispersed networks of critical assets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper discusses the results of high frequency earthing impedance measurements made on the earthing systems installed at Camp Blanding, Florida. Much of the initial information used to confirm the results obtained from high frequency earthing impedance testers is based on comparison of measured data from specifically designed earthing systems with simulations of the expected response of the grounding system. More recently, testing using devices injecting a surge current into a grounding system was compared with earthing impedance testers measuring selected frequencies of up to 1MHz. It was found that these devices yielded similar results. The impedance measurements at Camp Blanding were compared with currents measured during triggered lightning testing conducted in 2004 and 2005. Even though the dry porous sand at the site made the measurements difficult and the earthing impedance measurements were made four years and longer after system installation and current measurements, correlation was also found between the measured impedance and the measured current distribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: This paper presents the development of expert system related models using the concepts of Geno-Kalman Filtering (GKF) and fuzzy logic to predict the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) with the input of wind speed at the locations of Cat Point and Dry Bar in Apalachicola Bay, USA. The TSS and wind speed data recorded from June 1, 2005 to July 30, 2005 are used for the present modeling study. Data set is divided into two parts for the model development. The June data are selected for calibration and the July data are for model verification. The predicted TSS concentrations from the Geno-Kalman Filtering and fuzzy logic models are compared with those from a hydrodynamic model and measured data reported in . The statistical values in terms of the mean squared error (MSE), the coefficient of efficiency (CE) and the chi-square (χ 2) parameter between the observed data and predicted results for the evaluation of each model’s performance are presented. It is noted that both the hydrodynamic and Geno-Kalman Filtering models are capable of predicting TSS concentration with the trend of dynamic variation. Although the fuzzy logic and the Geno-Kalman Filtering models outperform the hydrodynamic model, the Geno-Kalman Filtering model is found to be able to produce the most accurate results at the studied locations. The fuzzy logic model tends to under-predict the TSS concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During landfall of Hurricane Ivan on the Florida ’panhandle’ in 2004, pressure time-history data were recorded on multiple pressure sensors installed on the roofs of six single-family homes. An analysis approach was developed to determine the peak negative, mean, peak positive, and standard deviation of pressure coefficients for these datasets. This paper presents a comparison of the full scale pressure coefficients from one of these homes, which experienced sustained hurricane force winds, with the results of wind tunnel experiments on a 1:50 scale model of that home. It was determined that the wind tunnel and full-scale mean and rms pressure coefficients matched very closely at almost every monitored location on the roof, while the peak negative pressure coefficients in the wind tunnel study generally underestimated the full-scale values, consistent with observations from previous full-scale/wind tunnel comparative studies. Field-measured hurricane wind loads may prove useful for evaluating existing wind load provisions. However, recommendations in that regard are premature without the analyses of multiple homes in multiple storms, performed by more than one wind tunnel facility. Future work will focus on building such a joint study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe emergency commitment of residents from nursing homes and to discuss relevant policy issues. Design and Methods: This study used statewide, archival emergency commitment data from July 2000 through June 2008. These data are created by entering data from paper emergency commitment initiation forms of law enforcement, mental health professionals, and judges submitted by facilities as required by Florida law. Results: During the 1 year from July 2007 through June 2008 there were 898 residents of Florida nursing homes with a total of 1032 emergency commitments. Some individuals had more than one emergency commitment from a nursing home during the year, with 9% having between two and five emergency commitments. One-third of the emergency commitments were for residents younger than 65. Some of these individuals also had substantial numbers of emergency commitments in the 7 years from July 2000 through June 2007. Implications: There are facility, client, and regulatory factors that can be addressed to reduce the inappropriate usage of emergency commitments in nursing homes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]